A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Stem, v.1 P.t. and p.p. also stemit, -ed. [North. and NW Midl. ME and e.m.E. (once) stem(me (Cursor M.) ? to stop, delay, late north. ME stem (once, c1450) to check, dam (a stream, etc.), thereafter not recorded in Eng. till 18th c., ON stemma.] tr. To stop, staunch (bleeding, a wound). b. transf. To stop, bring (something) to an end, more generally. c. intr. Of blood: To stop flowing.c1475 Wall. x 351.
Be than he had stemmyt full weill his wound a1500 Sir Eger 2035. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1483.
Verteous stanis … that blude wald stem 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 736.
I wate scho wald my bledyng stem … With hir moste verteous stone 15.. Clar. i 1021.
He with diverse herbis vertewus Stemit his woundis, and stintit the bleiding 15.. Clar. ii 1188. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5673.
This herb … is … gude … to stem rynning blude 1600-1610 Melvill 145.
My wound, skarslie stemit, beguid to blude apace 1609 Sharpe Selkirk 104.
She gave nae drink nor charming, but only ane to stem blood with 1662 Lamont Diary 154.
His mother … was bitten … with a puggy ther, which did blood so therafter, that it could be stemed nether by Doctor Mairtin, phesitian, nor by Johne Gourlay, apothecaryb. a1568 Scott xxvii 5.
But hurt, but wem, Or wind to stem, Inarmit I am with [= against] havines 1593–4 Cal. Sc. P. XI 266.
[How the land may be purged from] brygannis [and this] soirt of blodie raine be stemmit in tymes to cumc. intr. 1609 Sharpe Selkirk 104.
Being demandit giff the blood stemmit by these words she answered ‘yea’ 1609 Craig-Brown Selkirkshire I 180.
Our Lady went into the flood, And fand three steyes of Christis blood: Ane to dem, Ane other to stem: Dear Jesus in God's name!
